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Mike:
 
1.  Years ago, the Boston Museum of Science designed some interactives  that 
were placed in front of their dioramas to encourage more involvement in the  
dioramas; I think some of the interactives encouraged people to look for  
relationships among the animals and plants, etc. Betty Davidson was the  developer.
 
2.  The North Carolina Museum of Life and Science designed some  interactives 
for some outdoor spaces where visitors could see animals in  enclosures.  I 
am not sure exactly what they are, but they may be  relevant.  Roy Griffiths 
was the developer.
 
3.  The National Zoo in DC designed the "think tank" to encourage  visitors 
to observe orangutans as they played in a space designed to encourage  
exploration.  Maybe some of these approaches could be applied to static  dioramas.
 
4.  The NY Hall of Science designed some audio tour devices to  encourage 
greater use of interactives.  Likewise the Go APE project at the  Exploratorium 
encourages longer interaction.  Maybe these approaches could  be adapted to 
encourage great exploration of dioramas.  Likewise, the small  computers you get 
at Experience Music (at least several years ago) provided lots  of additional 
resources, which might also suggest additional things to check  out.
 
Well, none of this is too cosmic, but I hope it helps.
 
Bob
 
Robert L.  Russell, Ph.D.
Learning Experience Design
(202)  997-5539
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Interim Executive Director & Science  Advisor, Self-Reliance Foundation
Project Director, Celebra la Ciencia
_www.celebralaciencia.org_ (http://www.celebralaciencia.org/) 
(202)  360-4117

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